Evel Knievel, the hard-living motorcycle daredevil whose jumps over Greyhound buses, live sharks and Idaho’s Snake River Canyon made him an international icon in the 1970s, died Friday. He was 69.
Knievel’s death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Krysten Knievel. He had been in failing health for years, suffering from diabetes and pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable condition that scarred his lungs.
Knievel had undergone a liver transplant in 1999 after nearly dying of hepatitis C, likely contracted through a blood transfusion after one of his bone-shattering spills.
Immortalized in the Washington’s Smithsonian Institution as “America’s Legendary Daredevil,” Knievel was best known for a failed 1974 attempt to jump Snake River Canyon on a rocket-powered cycle and a spectacular crash at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He suffered nearly 40 broken bones before he retired in 1980.
Although he dropped off the pop culture radar in the ’80s, Knievel always had fans and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in recent years. In later years he still made a good living selling his autographs and endorsing products. Thousands came to Butte, Mont., every year as his legend was celebrated during the “Evel Knievel Days” festival.
“They started out watching me bust my ass, and I became part of their lives,” Knievel said. “People wanted to associate with a winner, not a loser. They wanted to associate with someone who kept trying to be a winner.”
His death came just two days after it was announced that he and rapper Kanye West had settled a federal lawsuit over the use of Knievel’s trademarked image in a popular West music video.
Knievel’s death is no great shock given how poor his health had been. For that matter, if anyone had told him 40 years ago he’d make it to 69 he’d have laughed. Still, I grew up watching his exploits on “Wide World of Sports” and elsewhere and it’s a sad passing.
In the era of three television networks, and before pay-per-view sporting events, things like Knievel stunts or championship boxing bouts were watched by the lion’s share of the country. Now, with the exception of the Super Bowl, there’s nothing like that. Even major sporting events, like the World Series or NBA Championship, are niche events when there are 200 channels to choose from. Even such phenomena as “American Idol” are still watched by a far smaller share of the population than watched Knievel’s jumps.
We’ll quite simply never see his like again. May he rest in peace.
Mischa Barton’s nipple practically makes an appearance in “Arena” magazine. What has she been in since her days on the “O.C.” as the tortured teen? Not much.
Mischa blames the lack of roles on her part due to a shortage of “good” roles for the ladies in Hollywood. Instead of continuing down the path of righteous actress she is considering ditching her onscreen roles for a producer’s chair.
Right….at least this way she could have a hand in casting herself in a film.
[Click thumbnails for a larger view]
Source: BARTON TO SWAP ACTING FOR PRODUCER ROLE? [PR-Inside]
Wrestling diva Jordan, aka Katie Price, was kissing her hot sister last night and Mr. Paparazzi was there to snap the pictures.
Our snappers caught up with Katie Price and her sister last night. On second thoughts we think it’s fair to say that Katie stayed in last night while Jordan enjoyed a night on the town! The girls started their night at London’s Embassy club before moving on to Movida to celebrate Jordan’s sisters birthday and that wasn’t all they were celebrating as earlier that evening Jordan had been named Mum of the Rear Year in a readers poll by Mother & Baby magazine.
The folks over at DListed is very judgmental about the whole thing.
Jordan was out and about in London last night kissing her sister and showing off her Mrs. Andre panties. I see track marks! Seriously, Jordan might have been out to celebrate her tits getting chopped off. She’s apparently getting a breast reduction any day now.
Let’s see…she’s going to go from a 44ZZZ to like a 42WWW?
Fred Goldman, who has the rights to the best-selling book, claims he has lost at least $150,000 since the popular Swedish site The Pirate Bay made the book available for free downloads, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Although Goldman’s attorneys have sent a letter demanding the Web site’s operators stop posting the book, the defendants have indicated “they are not subject to the laws of the United States,” the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit seeks to recover profits from the “illegal publication” and suggests The Pirate Bay receive advertising money from such American companies as Wal-Mart, Target, Jamster and The Wall Street Journal.
“It’s the wealth through the advertising” that allows the site to remain, said Goldman’s attorney, David Cook.
“Ron Goldman LLC will never be able to stop these pirates from posting that book online but they can do that in the poorhouse,” Cook said.
A call to The Pirate Bay was answered by a recording and the Web site was temporarily offline Thursday.
Goldman won the rights to the book in his ongoing legal fight with Simpson, who was acquitted in a criminal trial of the 1994 murders of his son and friend Nicole Brown Simpson. After their families sued for wrongful death, a civil court jury found Simpson liable and ordered him to pay $33.5 million.
Simpson has paid little of the judgment, which has risen to about $39 million with interest, so Fred Goldman has been going after some of the former football star’s assets.
He recently won the rights to the book, which was retitled “If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer” and became a New York Times best-seller.
With a court having earmarked 90 percent of the book’s royalties for Goldman, he could eventually win a substantial sum.
Yes… Every time that Britney Spears goes shopping, taxes go up. One look at how many cops it takes to patrol the parking lot outside Barnes and Noble, tells you that much. Seven accounted for, reportedly fifteen total.
This is the scene outside Barnes and Noble the evening of November 28th.
What others said:
Celebslam says, “Don’t worry I was initially confused too when I heard Britney was at a bookstore but then I remembered most Barnes & Nobles have a Starbucks inside of them–mystery solved!”
The charges stem from an incident last June in upstate NY when he was performing at a concert and someone in the crowd allegedly threw something at the singer on stage. Akon asked the crowd to point out the culprit. A security guard picked a 15-year-old out from the crowd and sent him up to the stage, where Akon hoisted him onto his shoulders and flung him into the crowd. Smack that! The kid landed on another teen who told the local paper she was later diagnosed with a concussion.
Akon is scheduled to appear in a local court on Monday for arraignment. If you haven’t seen the video, it’s below:
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Grey’s Anatomy’s Chyler Leigh, trying to make it onto the Hollywood scene, did a movie when she was about 15 in which she played kissy face with her very own flesh and blood brother. Icky. Ewww. How very Angelina Jolie of her.
She also kicks some street urchin ass in the film “Kickboxing Academy.” It is all very 1997 teen angst and coming of age. She and her brother exchange flirtations throughout the film and maintain a very G rated relationship. Near the end of the film, seen at the end of the clip below, Chyler tells her film love interest/brother to “shut up and kiss me.” Not too awful. She did it for the sake of the film. At least that is the angle I am taking because the situation creeps me out a little.
Having a remarkable resemblance to Ellen Pompeo, she is currently playing little sis Lexi on Grey’s Anatomy. She also is in the midst of wooing Justin Chambers’ character Alex. No relation there. Just sexy doctor sex.
Here’s the video:
Source: ‘Anatomy’ of a taboo [NY Daily News] and Chyler Leigh’s Secret Smooches with Brother [PR-Inside]
The Mile High club just got two new A-listers. While flying from Rome to Frankfurt Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal enjoyed some airplane lavatory sex. For an entire (and timed) 11 minutes the two occupied the bathroom after playing slap and tickle in the back row of first class.
The two may have gotten on the plane separately but it was painfully obvious they were enjoying each-others company under a blanket. Reese had an entourage of handlers that took up 16 seats on the 747 plane. But that failed to stop raging hormones from taking over.
After being on the plane for 3 hours the two couldn’t stand it any longer. Reese got up went to the bathroom followed by Jake just minutes later. After the two finished their rendezvous Jake walked back to his seat followed by Reese 3 minutes later.
What I want to know is who is sitting there with a stopwatch timing these two?
Source- Did Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal have sex on a plane? [Show Biz Spy]
Somehow, Britney Spears losing her virginity at the age of 14… didn’t make the list.
10. Reese Witherspoon
Reese’s brother was arrested for sexual battery
On October 5, 2002, Reese Witherspoon’s older brother, John, was arrested after he entered a Nashville neighbor’s home and tried to undress and kiss a woman while she slept. John, 34, pled guilty to lesser charges, and according to his attorney, he “took her word for it,” because he was drunk and blacked out on the night in question. Reese, 31, helped her brother after he finished his two years on probation by making him her personal assistant on the ironically titled film Our Family Trouble.
9. Gavin Rossdale
Gavin had a secret love child
In 2004, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, 42, were happily married and planning for a baby. But that October, Gwen got shocking news — Gavin’s 15-year-old goddaughter was actually his love child with former flame Pearl Lowe. “He stopped returning my calls,” Pearl says. DNA tests confirmed that Daisy Lowe was in fact his daughter. Gwen, 38, was said to be devastated, but soon after announced she was pregnant with her and Gavin’s baby Kingston, now 18 months. “You get through the rocky times,” Gwen has said.
8. Michelle Williams
Michelle’s dad faces tax evasion charges
Michelle Williams has been estranged from her father, Larry, since she was 15, but she’s still upset that the IRS charged the 64-year-old stock market trader with evading $1.5 million in taxes after he flew to Australia. “It’s a strange thing having one’s father locked up, but you get used to it,” Michelle, 27, says. When he was arrested in May 2006, it wasn’t lost on Michelle that her dad was detained in her ex Heath Ledger’s native country. “Of all places,” she says. “It’s like, could you pick somewhere else to be arrested?”
7. Woody Harrelson
Woody’s father was a convicted hit man
Woody Harrelson was only 7-years-old when his father, Charles, killed a Texas businessman and was put in jail. “I don’t feel he was much of a father,” says Woody. “He took no part in my upbringing.” Later, while Woody was attending college, his father was arrested again for the murder of a federal judge. Charles denied it and appealed to his son for support. “He was no saint,” says Woody, 46. “But I think he’s innocent of that killing.” Charles died in March while serving two life sentences.
6. Sara Evans
Sara claimed her husband had kinky desires
When country singer Sara Evans’ marriage to Craig Schelske fell apart last year, she aired his dirty laundry in court papers. Sara, 36, alleged that her husband of 13 years “kept a list of ads seeking casual and ménage-a-trois sex and had nude photos of himself indulging in sexual acts with other women,” on their home computer. Sara’s biggest concern was that their children Avery, 8, Olivia, 4, and Audrey, 3, were being exposed to the smutty shots. After Craig made shocking claims about Sara, they both agreed to drop their allegations and resolve their divorce “amicably.”
Top 5 MOST Shocking Hollywood Secrets - After the Jump!
Growing up, Tobey Maguire’s home life was far from perfect. At the age of 3, his parents split and he was forced to live with other family members. Then, in 1993, when Tobey was 18, his down-on-his-luck dad, Vincent, a cook, robbed a California bank and served two years in prison. Says a family friend of the shocking situation: “Tobey is aware his dad made a rash decision which cost him dearly. He was broke and has been a model citizen ever since.” Tobey, 32, learned a valuable lesson. “Growing up the way I did, I have a very serious ambition to make money and have some security,” he says.
4. Orlando Bloom
Orlando didn’t know who his real dad was
Growing up in Canterbury, Kent, England, Orlando Bloom believed that author and civil rights activist Harry Bloom was his father. Harry died when Orlando was only 4, and family friend Colin Stone became his legal guardian. It wasn’t until Orlando was a teenager that his mom, Sonia, admitted that Colin was actually his biological dad. “As long as I can remember, Colin has been a good friend, but I always thought Harry was my real father,” says Orlando, 30. “I don’t remember much about Harry, but my mother always speaks highly of him,” he says.
3. Halle Berry
Halle’s dad was abusive
Halle Berry’s parents divorced when she was a toddler. But her mom, Judith, invited her dad, Jerome, to move back into their Ohio home when Halle was 10 because she felt her daughters needed a father figure. Halle calls that year “the worst of my life,” because of Jerome’s violent behavior. “He abused my mother and my sister Heidi constantly,” she admits. Although she wasn’t harmed, “I was dealing with a lot of guilt,” Halle, 41, says.
2. Charlize Theron
Charlize’s mom killed her father
On June 21, 1991, Charlize Theron’s dad returned to their South African home after a long night of drinking. “My dad had a disease,” Charlize, 32, says. “He was an alcoholic.” Charlize says her dad never physically harmed her, but admits “he was a verbal abuser.” So when he fired a shotgun into the then 15-year-old’s bedroom, her mom, Gerda, shot and killed her husband. The court ruled it self-defense. “If my daughter was in the same situation, I’d do the same thing,” admits Charlize.
1. Nicole Richie
Nicole’s real dad was in Lionel’s band
Nicole Richie has always known Lionel and Brenda Richie as her mom and dad. But her real parents were actually members of Lionel’s band, who gave her up when she was 3-years-old. “My parents were friends with Lionel and they trusted that they would be better able to provide for me,” reveals Nicole, 26. So the Simple Life star — who was officially adopted when she was 9, a year before Lionel and Brenda divorced — was raised in an upscale LA suburb, where she met best friend Paris Hilton and dealt with her famous dad’s constant absence. “When Nicole came along, I was gone,” Lionel, 58, admits. Though her teens were rocky — she went to rehab for heroin addiction — Nicole is now very close with Brenda and Lionel.
Creepy Papa Joe Simpson offered up Jessica to Tony Romo like a blonde village idiot to sacrifice to the PR gods. He is a huge Dallas Cowboy fan and managed to make friends with Romo. So while Jess was in Nashville and Dallas working Joe set them up on a date.
After the two “had a drink” they continued to see each other. Of course Simpson is now all googley eyed for Romo. She reportedly has been calling and texting friends about how dreamy Tony is. When Jess falls for someone, she falls hard.
Tony on the other hand has been bagging the beauties of Hollywood. He recently ended a relationship with Carrie Underwood. Their breakup was rumored to be caused by his devotion to football. Carrie, in a hot blonde way, started to become a Yoko Ono and was cited as a “distraction” for Romo. Some fans began to point the finger at poor performances on her.
Jessica is probably doomed to the same fate….but for a totally different reason.
Source: Dad Makes A Score For Jess With Tony Romo [Celebrity Café]
“She’s thinking about suing. She’s so mad. She’s worked so hard at being a working mom and resolving legal issues. To have such a messed up lie come out like this now really angers her. She is serious about wanting to sue.”
I think Britney should be focusing more on her sanity and the lack thereof.
Tara Reid is hosting the 21st annual Hooker’s Ball in Australia this Sunday. The party is sponsored by a porn company. That’s right, for a mere $25 you can go and meet Tara.
Apparently, they think Tara Reid is a “Hollywood A Lister” in Australia.
I might be able to stop laughing, if they hadn’t misspelled ‘American‘ on the flyer. Poor Tara, she really has sunk down to bottom feeder level.
Legendary stuntman Robert Craig Evel Knievel has died after a long illness at the age of 69.
Our snappers caught up with Katie Price and her sister last night. On second thoughts we think it’s fair to say that Katie stayed in last night while Jordan enjoyed a night on the town! The girls started their night at London’s Embassy club before moving on to Movida to celebrate Jordan’s sisters birthday and that wasn’t all they were celebrating as earlier that evening Jordan had been named Mum of the Rear Year in a readers poll by Mother & Baby magazine.
Fred Goldman, who has the rights to the best-selling book, claims he has lost at least $150,000 since the popular Swedish site The Pirate Bay made the book available for free downloads, according to the lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
